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Yes, it's a new record. It's also impressive as that's without Chock/Bates and the Shibs (Chock/Bates medaling in the GP series since 2013-2014 and the Shibs since 2010-2011, their senior debut season). Also, in 2015-2016, the U.S. were the first country to qualify three ice dance teams in the GPF, and they did it three seasons straight.

The closest to five has been four. These are the times where four teams from a single country medaled in the GP series:

In the 2015-2016 season Russia had four teams medal in the GP series (Bobrova/Soloviev; Sinitsina/Katalapov; Iliynkh/Zhiganshin; and Stepanova/Bukin). Both B/S and S/K came away with a silver and a bronze.​

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In the 2014-2015 season, the U.S. had four teams medal in the GP series (Chock/Bates with gold and silver; the Shibs with two silvers; Hubbell/Donohue with two bronzes; and Hawayek/Baker with a bronze).​

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The U.S. also had four in 2013-2014 (Davis/White; the Shibs; Chock/Bates, and Hubbell/Donohue with the first three teams winning two medals).​

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In 2012-2013, Russia had four teams medal in the GP series (Bobrova/Soloviev; Ilinykh/Katsalapov; Riazanova/Tkachenko; and Sinitsina/Zhiganshin) with the first three teams winning two medals. The U.S. only had two (Davis/White and the Shibs).​

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In 1997-1998, four Russian teams medaled (Grishuk/Platov; Krylova/Ovysiannikov; Lobacheva/Averbukh; and Semenovich/Fedorov). Could have been five with Navka/Morosov medaling at Cup of Russia, but they represented Belarus.​

Carreira and Ponomarenko’s medal marks the fifth U.S. ice dance team that has medaled in the 2018-19 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series, the first time that has happened. Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue won gold at both Skate America and Skate Canada, Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker won NHK Trophy, where Rachel Parsons and Michael Parsons took bronze, and Lorraine McNamara and Quinn Carpenter earned bronze at Grand Prix of Helsinki.

While I’m loving the positive comments people have on H/B’s FD, I’m a little surprised to see stuff like emotional connection and speed mentioned as areas where they’ve made huge improvements - I never thought they were lacking in these aspects. I thought their problem was more about not being able to get the levels and GOEs? I also didn’t think their two past FDs lacked maturity or profoundness.

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H&B have had speed and skating skills. They've also had the same choreographer who did Takahashi's Blues for Klook and Weaver & Poje's Je Suis Malade. They've had issues with mistakes (twizzles and falls). And just the sheer depth in the international dance field, which is much less this season due to splits, retirements, and teams sitting out. Last year, H&B split results with Zagorski & Guerreiro. At NHK, they split dances with them.

So, really, as far as we know, they are in about the same place internationally. The better result is due to staying together, working, and continuing to compete during a post Olympic season. (Plus the P&C withdrawal from the event, but still 2nd would have been a career best for H&B). Last year, they were more competitive in the FD than in the RD, and that remained true at NHK. They bombed the levels in the pattern at NHK so those were not up at this debut. (In part due to an obvious mistake from him). But it was their season opener so a good chance for improvement after a debut performance. Kudos to H&B for their first win and skating a strong FD performance under the pressure of possibility and after a serious injury.

Three of four young U.S. teams have split results with Zagorski & Guerreiro. And three of four have split results with Hurtado & Khaliavin this season. Really, it's an incredible fight!

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While I’m loving the positive comments people have on H/B’s FD, I’m a little surprised to see stuff like emotional connection and speed mentioned as areas where they’ve made huge improvements - I never thought they were lacking in these aspects. I thought their problem was more about not being able to get the levels and GOEs? I also didn’t think their two past FDs lacked maturity or profoundness.

They really are having a great season, aren't they? WISA may be a big name in int'l ice dance in a few years (if they're not already with you know two very recent World Junior champs). They may be THE school in the U.S.

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McNamara & Carpenter defeated Lauriault & Le Gac this weekend. Since no one is signed up for Golden Spin, that means M&C wrap up their preseason and regular GP and Challenger season with head-to-head wins over the teams that finished 4th at SC, 2nd & 3rd at Rostelecom, and 3rd & 4th at NHK, and of course everyone who finished below them at SA and in Helsinki (head to head wins over L&LG, Hurtado & Khaliavin, Carreira & Ponomarenko, the Parsons, Fear & Gibson, Popova & Mosgov, Kaliszek & Spodyriev, Nazarova & Nikitin). And a split result with the team that finished 2nd at NHK (Zagorski & Guerreiro).

Head to heads I would still like to see:
-Vs. Hawayek & Baker. I was hoping for an international one before Nationals, which we won't be getting. But we will get this head-to-head.
-Vs. Fournier-Beaudry & Sorenson. (McNamara & Carpenter actually defeated them last season at Autumn Classic, but that was very early. I'd like to see how F-B&S stack up with all these young teams this season).
-Vs. Smart & Diaz. S&D finished behind Lauriault & Le Gac at SC, but those teams have split results this season so it would be worth seeing the head-to-head. We will see S&D against Hawayek & Baker and the Parsons this weekend.

All the U.S. teams other than M&C have at least one more GP or Challenger left.

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I'd like to see another head to head between the Parsons and M/C as well. That was in what, July? And the Parsons were really struggling with their levels and execution, but have since performed much better and gotten comparable scores to M/C (huge difference from the big gap at LPI). Not that the win is meaningless, but I'd put more stock in it if they beaten them head to head when both teams were skating well.

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The Parsons and Carreira & Ponomarenko have now wrapped up their regular seasons as well.

The Parsons now have head-to-head wins over the teams that finished 4th at SC, 5th at SA, 2nd & 3rd at Rostelecom, 4th in Finland, and of course, everyone who finished below their 3rd place finish at NHK and 5th place finish in France. They also split dances with the team that finished 2nd at NHK, and have split final results with Wang & Liu this season.

Head-to-heads I would still like to see:

-Vs. Fournier-Beaudry & Sorensen

Carreira & Ponomarenko now have head-to-head wins over the teams that finished 5th at SA, 7th at SC, 4th at NHK, 8th at IDF, and of course over everyone who finished below their 5th place finish in Helsinki and 3rd place finish in Rostelecom. They also split dances with the team that finished 4th in Helsinki & 2nd at Rostelecom.